Picture yourself on a concert with Beatles – Rain made it easy to do in Oslo, Norway with a Beatles tribute at “Folketeateret”: A two-hour look back to pop music’s most shining pearls! My dear wife bought tickets a long time ago, but kept it a secret by only inviting me to a “spring date”. It became another quality time on a journey into my youth when Peace & Love was everyone’s mantra.
As the Beatles stopped touring early in 1966, Rain has been a welcome phenomenon that has filled the huge void left by the Beatles in the music world and its concert halls – and they do it in a way that would even have impressed the Beatles themselves. Their tribute show ran on Broadway with tremendous success, and the reception in Oslo has been remarkable. No wonder as it took me down the memory (or should I say Penny…) Lane in a way I would never know was possible. Sitting in the front row, I used my mobile phone to capture the moments so I can share with you:
Imagine all the people (at a Beatles concert) – it’s easy if you try : -)
The show is also a visual pleasure. The band changed costumes at least as frequently as their heroes, in addition to several large screens that replayed historical record of The Beatles in the 60s. The screen on the stage behind them supported the themes and brought us in the mood of different Beatles periods according to the preformed music and albums. It even captures the ecstatic mood of the audience while we cheered and sang along:
They are all extremely talented musicians, and have studied every song for over three decades, every note, and every nuance of the Beatles’ songs were performed in a way that the legendary quartet would have loved.
The result is that they have taken the songs to a new level, and will perform several of the most sophisticated songs that the Beatles did not even do live. RAIN today has over 200 Beatles songs in its repertoire.
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band:
To me it really took off when they sat the scene for Stg. Pepper: the stage setting, the lights, the mood, the atmosphere and also their costumes changed accordingly. I was immediately sent back to June 1967 when I was 15 and felt like a rebelian child singing along to “Lucy in the Sky with Daimonds”. I so much remember the fight I had with my parents to let my hair grow even a bit over my ears – not to meantion playing the music at the top on my portable record player : -) A also vaugely remember the crush I had with a girl at that time… it all swirled in my head – like a fairy tale – as I experienced an intoxicating feeling of time from my youth in the previous millennium . I do hope this photo from the concert can give you a clue : -)
Best of all was to share this experience with my loving wife who surprised me with this Magical Mystery Tour of a spring date. Being together doubled the experience and tippled the fun ; -)